Tanzania’s Tundu Lissu Rallies Support Amid Treason Charges

Tanzania’s main opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, struck a defiant tone as he appeared in court on Monday for the first time since his arrest on treason charges, urging his supporters to remain fearless.

Lissu, who boycotted a hearing on April 24 in protest over it being held virtually rather than in person, made a dramatic entrance in court with his fist raised high, as supporters chanted, “No Reforms, No Election!” A video shared by his CHADEMA party on X (formerly Twitter) captured the moment.

“We will be fine. You should not fear,” Lissu told the courtroom, flashing a victory sign from the dock.

Lissu, a fierce critic of the government and survivor of a 2017 assassination attempt in which he was shot 16 times, was formally charged with treason last month. Authorities accuse him of inciting public rebellion in a speech that allegedly urged citizens to disrupt the upcoming October elections.

His arrest is part of a wider crackdown on opposition figures, casting fresh scrutiny on President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s human rights record as she gears up for a re-election campaign. Though Hassan insists her government is committed to human rights, critics point to an increasingly restrictive political environment.

CHADEMA continues to demand comprehensive electoral reforms, accusing the current system of being skewed in favor of the ruling party. The party has threatened to boycott the elections unless key changes are made.

In a show of regional solidarity, several prominent Kenyan human rights activists, including former Justice Minister Martha Karua and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, attempted to attend the court proceedings in Dar es Salaam. However, they were detained upon arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport and swiftly deported.

“Today was meant to be a big day, and we went in solidarity,” Karua told Kenya’s NTV. “The state cannot be used as a personal tool. You cannot deport people simply because they hold different views.”

Rights activist Hussein Khalid, who was also among the group, said on X that he and Mutunga were being held in an airport interrogation room and expected to be deported shortly.

Tanzanian immigration officials have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the detentions.

As the political tension builds, all eyes remain on Tanzania’s judiciary and government to see how the unfolding drama will shape the country's democratic future.